Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving.  It is the day that online retailers offers big discounts for those who make purchases through online stores.  It is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. 

Cyber Monday was started in 2005.  It was a term coined by the National Retail Federation (NRF).  The NRF noticed that people were making online purchases on Mondays when they were back at work.  Purchases were being made on Mondays because consumers who did not have a computer or Internet connection at home would wait until they get to work on Monday to use the company computer. 

 

In 2017 online shoppers are expected to spend over $6 billion.

On this day online retailers attract buyers by offering sales through:

 

- Coupons

- Discounts

- Limited promotions

- Free gift-with-purchase giveaways

- Free shipping
 

Increasingly shoppers are preferring Cyber Monday to Black Friday because of several factors such as:

 

- 24 hour convenience to shop

- Want to avoid crowds at the retail stores

- They know specifically what they want

- Can Daily compare prices
 

The increasing use of mobile devices such as phones and tablets make it easy for consumers to shop online.
 

Also, the increasing use of social media has become a driving force in the decision making process for consumers.  Consumers rely heavily on the feedback from other users in social media in order to make purchasing decisions.

 

 

You can start doing these things to prepare:

 

- Prepare your Website for traffic

- Make your website mobile friendly

- Promote your smallbiz online in social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.)

- Open a shop in Amazon.com

- Subscribe to hashtag #CyberMonday

- Promote your own hashtag based on your product or service

- Build excitement through email marketing
 

Get your Site Listed in Search Directories:

Consumers go online to your company website or search for your company information in directories in order to get basic information such as company hours, product information, business location, and directions.  They also go to these sites for online reviews by other customers.  Take advantage of this phenomenon and get your site listed on these directories.
 

Get Your Offers Listed:

 

Brad’s Deals

This site offers retailers the opportunity to reach 4.5 million customers monthly.  Place ads at this page. 

 

 

CyberMonday.com

This site list all sales at major retailers.  Consumers can visit the site and find out what sales are being offered.  Use the Contact page to get your site listed.  Merchants who would like to be listed on CyberMonday.com must have an active affiliate program with Rakuten Affiliate Network, Commission Junction, Share-A-Sale, AvantLink, Affiliate Window, Pepperjam Affiliate Network, or Performance Horizon Network. Deadline for participation is by October 31. To receive information on how to have your company listed on the CyberMonday.com site, contact Eric Peck, at epeck@cartera.com.

 

Slick Deals LLC

Slick Deals LLC offers a few advertising opportunities for businesses to promote their products and special offers. They have a reach of over 700 million views annually and 10 million monthly.   Signup here.